State government announces legislation for minimum distance when passing cyclists

27 Nov 2016, 4:28 p.m.

Safety laws for passing cyclists on the road will be enacted in 2017.

A metre matters.

An announcement by Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding that minimum distances for overtaking cyclists will be enacted as law in 2017 has been warmly welcomed by the Tasmanian cycling fraternity.

Mr Hidding said the Amy Gillett Foundation’s ‘A Metre Matters’ campaign had been “a driver” in raising awareness of cycling safety, and he also credited Member for Bass Sarah Courtney for her strong support.

“We can implement the laws in Tasmania, and that follows two years of heavy marketing to change the culture,” Mr Hidding said.

Laws will be changed to require drivers to maintain a minimum passing distance of one metre or one and a half metres when overtaking cyclists depending on the speed zone.